Match-box.



No. 657,267. Patented Sept, 4, I900.

m. EPSTEIN.

MATCH BOX.

(Application filed June 5, 1900.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES: m ENTOR W A BY ATTORNEY m: NORRIS PETERS co, PHQYO-LITNO wAsnwmzm. n c.

l\ I I UrTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORRIS EPSTEIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MATCH-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,267, dated September 4, 1900.

Application filed June 5,1900,

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MORRIS EPS TEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in match-boxes of the kind constructed more particularly for carrying about the person in the waistcoat or other pocket.

The object of the invention is to produce a simple and economical match-box of the kind referred to which shall be capable of being made of very light material and put together by means of rivets only.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the several parts of the frame of my improved match-box. Fig. 2 represents the spring-catch for holding the spring-top of the box closed; Fig. 3, the cover of the box, and Fig. 4E represents a vertical longitudinal section of the match-box.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the frame of the box, which is made in a single piece from a strip of thin metal bent to form the back rim a, front rim 7), and bottom rim 0. The edges of these parts are bent over at right angles to form flanges d d, that extend from the upper or top end of the back rim a around the edges of the bottom rim 0 and up the front rim 1) and terminate atw at a point about half-way between the bottom and top of said front part. These flanges have projections or ears 6 9 e respectively, at the ends thereof and at an intermediate point say at the junction of the back rim a with the bottom rim c-and the ears are perforated for the rivets that fasten the cover on the frame, as will be described presently.

B is the top of the match-box. This is struck up in asingle piece from thin metal and has its edges bent over at right angles to form flangesff, that extend from end to end of the top. At the rear end ears 9 g are formed on the flanges to receive the pintle 72, on which the top turns. The spring z'for throwing the top open is wound around this pintle, as

$erial No. 19,181. (No model.)

shown. The front end of the top B is turned under to form a hook 70, that engages the catch that fastens the top when closed.

D is a spring-catch made from a flat piece of steel and having the catch Zat its upper end and a rivet-ho1e m, which when the s pringcatch is in position is in line with a rivet-hole n in the front rim of the box-frame. The spring-catch is narrower than the front rim of the frame.

E is the cover of the box, which is made from a single piece of material manipulated in such a manner as to form the sides 0 0 and back 19 of the cover. In the sides rivet-holes q q are formed, that correspond in position to the rivet-holes in the ears 6 6 The several parts of my improved matchbox having been described, I will now proceed to state the method of putting them together to form the box.

The spring-catch D is laid against the inside of the front rim between the flanges d d and fastened in that position by means of the single rivet, as shown in Fig. 4. The top B is connected with the frame by inserting its ears g g between the ears e e on the flanges d cl of the back rim (1 and securing it in that position by means of the pintle 7L, passed through the perforations in the said ears. The spring 1', which is wound around the pintle, is arranged so that one end bears against the top and the other against the back rim, as shown clearly in Fig. 4. The spring is wound in such a manner that its upper end, that bears against the top, forces the top up to open the box when it is released from the catch. The frame thus put together is inserted between the sides 0 0 of the cover E, with its back rim against the back thereof, and is secured in place by means of rivets r r, passed, respectively, through the perforations or rivet-holes in the ears 6 e in the frame and q q in the cover, as indicated in Fig. 4;, thus forming the complete match-box. The rivet 7' being inside the spring-catch D aids in holding the same in place. The front rim 1) being of thin metal bends readily when pressed; but the spring-catch D returns it to its proper position.

The match-box is closed by turning the top B down until the hook is forces the springcatch Z back and passes the same, whereupon the catch springs forward and engages the hook, as shown in Fig. 4. To open the box, the thumb is pressed against the front rim 6,

near the top thereof, whereby the spring-catch V is forced back and releases the hook, whereupon the spring z' throws the top up and open.

The cover E is preferably made of leather, which is particularly adapted to a frame of this construction; but I do not confine myself to that material exclusively.

I claim- 1. In a 'lnatch-box the combination of a frame consisting of front, back and bottom rims having flanges thereon, the flanges on the front rim terminated at a point between the top of the front rim and the bottom rim,

' a top for closing the box having flanges thereframe A made in a single piece consisting of the front, back and bottom rims b a 0 having.

flanges d d thereon, the flanges on the front rim extending to the point 00 only, and the rim having perforated ears 6 e e thereon, the top B made in a single piece and having flanges ff with perforated ears g g thereon at the rear end and a hook it at the front end, the ears 9 9 being placed between the ears 6 e of the frame and secured thereto by the pintle h, a spring wound around said pintle and having its ends bearing respectively against the top B and back riin a, the spring-catch D fastened to the front rim b, and the cover E inclosing the frame and top and connected with the frame by rivets, passed through the projections 6 e substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix my signature in pres= ence of two witnesses.

MORRIS EPSTEIN.

Witnesses:

ADAM WIENER, WILTON C. DONNi 

